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Product Description

When Mary Todd Lincoln locks horns with equally formidable red-haired "first-lady-in-waiting" Kate Chase Sprague, who will prevail? Determined to help her father, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase, unseat President Lincoln, Kate brings all her gifts to bear. She and Mrs. Lincoln share many resources: beauty, brains, abolitionist ideals---and the same dressmaker. Who will outshine whom?

Publisher's Description

The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, Jennifer Chiaverini, reveals the famous First Lady’s very public social and political contest with Kate Chase Sprague, memorialized as one of the most remarkable women ever known to Washington society.” (Providence Journal)

Kate Chase Sprague was born in 1840 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the second daughter to the second wife of a devout but ambitious lawyer. Her father, Salmon P. Chase, rose to prominence in the antebellum years and was appointed secretary of the treasury in Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, while aspiring to even greater heights.

Beautiful, intelligent, regal, and entrancing, young Kate Chase stepped into the role of establishing her thrice-widowed father in Washington society and as a future presidential candidate. Her efforts were successful enough that The Washington Star declared her the most brilliant woman of her day. None outshone her.”

None, that is, but Mary Todd Lincoln. Though Mrs. Lincoln and her young rival held much in commonpolitical acumen, love of country, and a resolute determination to help the men they loved achieve greatnessthey could never be friends, for the success of one could come only at the expense of the other. When Kate Chase married William Sprague, the wealthy young governor of Rhode Island, it was widely regarded as the pinnacle of Washington society weddings. President Lincoln was in attendance. The First Lady was not.

Jennifer Chiaverini excels at chronicling the lives of extraordinary yet littleknown women through historical fiction. What she did for Elizabeth Keckley in Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker and for Elizabeth Van Lew in The Spymistress she does for Kate Chase Sprague in Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival.

Author Bio

JENNIFER CHIAVERINI is the New York Times bestselling author of the Elm Creek Quilts series, The Spymistress, and Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. She lives with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.

“Any reader interested in President Lincoln, Civil War history, or historical fiction should love this book.” —Bookreporter.com on Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

“Taking readers through times of war and peace as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary woman, the author brings Civil War Washington to vivid life through her meticulously researched, authentic detail. Chiaverini’s characters are compelling and accurate; the reader truly feels drawn into the intimate scenes at the White House.” —Library Journal on Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

This is the story of a very accomplished young woman. She has stepped into the shoes of her Mother so to say. Her father has had an illustrious career as a State Senator from Ohio. She has become a First Lady to him, a Hostess, and a brilliant worker on his behalf. Their main goal together is the Presidency of the United States.

Unfortunately Kate's father makes a few big mistakes, and Abraham Lincoln outshines him and becomes President. Knowing what we know, I guess he was blessed!

Thus we see where a rivalry comes from between Mrs Lincoln, and lovely Kate. This book takes you almost daily into the beginning, the War, and then finally the end of the Cival War. What a time to live in Washington D. C. Must have been hard to live in the middle of the action, watching the young determined men march off, and then the casualties of war return.

Kate's Dad still has the ambition to climb to the highest office of the land, and does take a position in Lincoln's Cabinet. We experience of the tragedy of the loss of Lincoln's son, and the snubbing of Kate and her family. There is also a touch of romance, and you will find yourself routing first for one fellow and then the other.

Kate ends up with one, but what a relationship, kinda not happily ever after. I also felt that the ending was a bit rushed, and we missed some closures. There are unanswered questions, I wish there had been a bit more.

All in all I enjoyed this book, and would recommend you read it. You will experience living in the 1860's in most of Eastern US.

I received this book from the Publisher through Net Galley, and was not required to give a positive review.